JAY — Regional School Unit 73 board of directors on Thursday, Aug. 22, approved handbook changes for the district’s four Spruce Mountain schools, including a No Tolerance Policy at the primary school in Livermore.

Adding a consequence matrix “as a guide so there is consistency between students, staff and parents between behaviors and the consequences for that behavior, but understanding that it is circumstantial as well,” Darcy Shink, new principal at the primary school, requested. “I would like to implement a No Tolerance Policy for physical aggression. If a student has been harmful to staff or a student they will not return to the classroom that day.”

At the elementary school in Jay classes will now start at 7:45 a.m., the day will end at 2:10 p.m., Principal Pat St. Clair said. The changes are to accommodate a new intervention block, other things needed to get done during the day, he noted.

Earlier in the meeting St. Clair said the new block would allow for working with students on reading, math, social or emotional needs without having to take them out of regular instruction. Each grade will have a certain time to work on those needs, he noted.

Behavior hierarchy was updated now that field trips and similar things are again possible, St. Clair said. “If a student can’t do what is needed at school, I don’t want to take them in public,” he added.

Director Don Emery of Livermore Falls asked how parents were informed when students are bullied at the elementary school.

“Parents should get told the same day,” St. Clair replied. He shares with the parent what is known, that it would be looked into. The story can be very convoluted, can change or not be remembered later, he noted.

At the middle school in Jay, the online electronic pass system was updated to an automated system, slippers and pajamas added to clothing not allowed during the day, and wrestling was added to activities, Principal Kris Targett said. Also added was students suspended from school can potentially be removed from a team or club for the remainder of that time period, Targett noted.

Director Jodi Cordes of Jay asked if glitches with teachers not being at their computer when a student needed to leave the room had been worked out.

“Absolutely,” Targett responded. Students create the pass, the teacher indicates they can leave, there is a sign out sheet, he added.

At the high school in Jay, the bell schedule has been changed and there will be two lunch periods, Principal TJ Plourde noted. “The last couple of years there has been three lunches and it just takes a lot of time out of the classroom,” he said. “We think we can do it now. Especially with the new tables, things like that helps out quite a bit.”

With students finding ways to skirt it, the school-wide late procedure was made stronger for staff, Plourde stated. Teachers will review the new flow chart with students, he added.

Director Roger Moulton of Livermore Falls asked about excused and unexcused absences, if his daughter would not get credit for her honors class if he as a parent decided to take her out.

“The state makes us look at what they have and then we can adjust it to where we want it to go,” Plourde replied, “We always have an appeals process for every student that reaches the five [absences] that is for a semester long course. A full year course is 10. … It is rare that a kid would not gain credit.”

Cordes asked that all unit deadlines be clarified.

When the unit starts the teacher has to tell students when the due date is, post it in the classroom and in Power School, Plourde said. “That way kids have a good understanding when everything is and they are not going “Oh my goodness, it is thrown on me”,” he added.